in the Financial Services space
In my almost 30-year career in investment management, I have been involved in many of the aspects of running and governing investment management businesses. I studied Econometrics with a specialization in Quantitative Finance; received my CFA-charter; was President of CFA Society Netherlands; worked in the investment management department of a public pension fund; was a co-founder of a private equity fund of funds business, developing, marketing, selling, investing, and managing products and services; ran an investment management company managing publicly traded equity and fixed income funds; and have been Chairman of several alternative investment funds. Overall, I have been (jointly) responsible for approximately EUR 54 billion in assets in the investment management space, and overseeing the activities of about 200 people.
I help your organization with Executive Coaching and/or Non-Executive Directorships.
For Executive Coaching, I help you understand what the issue is that you are facing, whether it be a personal development matter, or an organizational roadblock, and give you the tools to help overcome them. This oftentimes requires an increase in awareness of how you view the thoughts you have about certain topics, as well as the emotions and (physical) sensations related to that. That awareness can be used to deal with those aspects of yourself, so that you are then able to more effectively put solutions into place without them carrying over the thoughts and feelings that were encumbering you earlier. This makes you much more effective in problem solving and implementing solutions in your life and your organization. Executive Coaching can be specific goal-oriented in a limited time frame (oftentimes under 10 sessions in about a 3 month period), or longer term support of Executives as they grow and develop in their careers.
A related testimonial of an internationally operating C-suite executive:
“Working with Mikan over the past several years has been a revelation and has immeasurably improved my life. From the early stages that involved techniques to really understand oneself and what truly matters, to an evolution of self introspection vs all that is around us, it has been a journey of increasing acceptance, transparency and serenity. Pragmatically also, Mikan has been able to help create clarity for me when urgently needed and continues to teach me how to find it within. Our interactions, whether short or long, simple or complex, always leave me with an extraordinary sense of lightness which carries through cumulatively in my life since we first met.”
For Non-Executive Directorships, my preferred mode of operation is to get to know you and your organization, decide on a way forward, implement the way, and assess effectiveness, preferably in close cooperation with those in leadership positions. Although this is a normal course of business for most organizations, a key differentiating factor is my willingness to openly assess the status quo, challenging your existing way of thinking, feeling, and acting, in order to get the most out of you and your organization. Especially interesting is my desire for your organization to become as robust and self sufficient as it can be, leading to an appropriate division of tasks and responsiblities, allowing all within an organization to focus on those areas they are best equipped to deal with.
I am particularly interested in complex organizational issues, where – beyond a general sense that something is not right or not working as it should, or not at the level it could – it is unclear to current management or (supervisory) boards where exactly the issue lies. An outside-in perspective really helps in those circumstances to firstly figure out where the issue is, and secondly, implement a solution. An appropriate role with(in) the organization would need to be chosen, and depending on the organization, that could be in the form of consultancy/advisory to start, possibly followed by (interim) management or (non)executive directorial positions to facilitate implementation. I have found this approach is in very much in line with my personal tendency to question how specific issues relate to the bigger picture we are trying to implement, and so taking on such tasks has me feeling like the proverbial fish in water.
Some relevant examples of projects I have worked on:
- With limited resources effectively implementing a U.S,/Europe cross-border sales and investment opportunity sourcing model for an alternative investment fund manager
- As board member, and later president, of a growing financial analyst society, overseeing strong membership growth and laying the foundation for a later merger with the key (competing) other market participant
- After market analysis to determine the right operating model, optimizing the efficiency of a very large Luxembourg based management company in an increasingly demanding regulatory environment, resulting in a robust and efficient nearly self-sufficient organization whilst maintaining a strong P&L
- As Chairman, contributing to several smoothly run investment funds, with all involved parties working together to optimize operations and effectiveness
- As board member, increasing the professionalism and effectiveness of a European-wide operating non-profit organization
- As board member, professionalizing the Board of a highly succesful but undermanaged Netherlands based sports organization
Contact me to learn more.